🍲🔥 Authentic South Indian Mutton Paaya Recipe 🐐💥 | Hearty, Spicy & Soul-Warming!

🥣 South Indian Mutton Paaya Recipe (Serves 4)

🧂 Ingredients:

For cleaning the paaya:

• 4–6 goat trotters (mutton paaya)
• 1 tbsp turmeric
• Water for washing

For cooking:

• 2 tbsp gingelly oil (or coconut oil)
• 1 large onion – finely chopped
• 1 tomato – chopped
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2–3 green chilies – slit
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1½ tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp garam masala
• Salt – to taste
• 4 cups water (or more, as needed)
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

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🍲 To Roast & Grind (Spice Paste):

• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• 1 tsp peppercorns
• 2 cardamoms
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 tsp poppy seeds (optional)
• 2 tsp grated coconut (optional, for richness)

Dry roast all and grind to a fine powder or paste.

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👨‍🍳 Preparation Steps:

1. Clean the Paaya:
   • Wash trotters thoroughly. Scrub well with turmeric and rinse multiple times until clean. (Some boil them once to remove scum, then discard the water.)
2. Pressure Cook:
   • In a pressure cooker, add the cleaned paaya with turmeric, salt, and 4 cups water. Cook for 5–6 whistles or until tender.
3. Prepare the Curry Base:
   • In a large pot, heat oil. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden.
   • Add curry leaves, green chilies, and ginger-garlic paste. Sauté until raw smell leaves.
   • Add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft.
   • Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric, and salt. Stir well.
4. Add Ground Masala:
   • Add the roasted spice powder/paste and cook for 2–3 minutes until aromatic.
5. Combine and Simmer:
   • Pour in the cooked paaya along with the stock. Let the mixture simmer for 20–30 mins on low flame until the soup thickens slightly and flavors develop.
6. Finish:
   • Add garam masala and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot with idiyappam, appam, dosa, or rice.

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💡 Bonus Tips:

• ✅ Deep flavor: Slow simmering for longer gives better gelatin extraction from bones.
• 🍋 Add a splash of lime juice before serving for a tangy finish.
• 🧄 Roast garlic cloves with the masala for extra depth.
• 🥥 For Kerala touch, add light coconut milk at the end.
• ❄️ Meal prep tip: Make a double batch and freeze – it tastes even better the next day!
• 🚫 For diabetic-friendly version, reduce oil and skip coconut milk.